Motor-operated vehicle



C. E-"MORRIS.

MOTOR OPERATED VEHICLE.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1911.

1,820,336. Patented Oct. 28,1919. I 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. E. MORRIS. MOTOR OPERATED VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2,1911.

WIT/V1551?! INVEN TOR. G 77! W A TTORNE Y c. E. MORRIS MOTOR OPERATEDVEHiGLE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, I917.

Patented Oct. 28,1919.

3 SHEET S-SHEET 3- WITNESS.

% ZyVE/V TOR.

ATTORNEY CHARLES E. MORRIS, on LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF'ro CHARLES W. PARKER, 0F LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

, MOTOR-OPERATED VEHICLE.

' Application filed July 2,

To titl 'whom it may concern Bent known that I, CHARLns E. MORRIS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Leavenworth, in the county ofLeavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Motor- Operated Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification. h l

y invention relates to improvements in motor operated vehicles.

Oneof the objects of my invention is to provide novel means by which thedirection of movement of an electrically operated vehicle may beautomatically reversed whenever the circuit in which the vehicle motoris includedis closed and then opened.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means forindicating to a distant operator the direction in which the vehicle istraveling.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel meansfor/ operating areversing switch.

Other novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully describedand. claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the'preferred embodimentof-my invention, p i

Figure l is an elevation vided with my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same, some of the parts being shown inhorizontal section. v

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the electric circuitemployed when utilizing a continuous current.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the contact mechanismemployed for taking the current from the wheel of the car. Fig. 5 is anenlarged vertical sectional View on the line 5+5 of Fig. 6 oft-hereverse switch and mechanism for operating the same. V

Fig. 6 is abottom viewof what is shown in Fig. 5.

Of a car pro- Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 7-7 ofFig. 5. I

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a portion of the reversing switch. I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view, partly in side elevation and partly invertical section of a portion of the reversing switch operating bar andparts connected therewith.

Specification of Letters B atant.

in electrical contact tact with the plates 20 Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

1917. Serial No. 178,313.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View or a-portion of the electric circuit suchas is employed when either the alternating or continuous current isutilized.-

Fig.11 is a diagrammatic view of, a portion of the circuit employed whenthe alternating current is utilized.

Fig. 12 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical stats, andparts connected therewith.

Fig. 13 is an View on the line 1313 of Fig.'-12.

Flg. 14 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 1111 of,Fig. '12.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the differentviews.

1 designates acar body provided with car wheels 2 adapted to run onrails 3 and. which are'secured to an axle 4 having secured to it a gearwheel 5 which meshes with a pinion 6 secured to the armature'shaft 7' ofa motor 8 carried by the car body' 1.

e inner side of each wheel 2 is rovided with a metal contact plate 9which is with a steel tire 10, Fig. 2, which bears upon theadjacent rail3.

Longitudinally slidable respectively in two horizontal transverse tubes11- are two contact pins 12 which are respectively normally forcedagainst the plates 11 by two coil springs 13 -respectively mounted in'the tubes 11 and which respectively bear at their inner ends-against twoscrews l4.- adjustably mounted in the inner ends of the tubes 11. Thelatter are respectively supported in bearings 15 which are secured tothe under side of the car body 1.

Secured to the under side of the l is a reversing switch mechanism ingthe following described parts.

A horizontal plate 16, of insulating material, is secured to the underside of the body 1 and has secured-to it two downwardly extendingsupporting members 17, Fi s. a orizontal transverse shaft 18 to which issecured a fiat rectangular block 19, of insulating material, whlch hasmounted upon it two contact plates 20 and 21.

Secured to the plate 16 at one side of the oscillatable contact carryingblock or member 19 are two spring contact plates 22 and 23, which arealways respectively in concar body comprisenlarged vertical sectional- 5t0 7 in which is oscillatably mounted.

and 21. Also secured sectionof oneof the rheoto the plate 16 are twospring .contact plates 24 and 25, which are adapted to respectively bearupon the contact plates 20 and 21 when the contact carrying member 19 isswung to one position, and which are adapted to slide 'ofi from saidcontact plates, when the contact carrying member 19 is swung to theposition shown'in Figs. 3, 5 and 11.

Secured to the plate 16 at the opposite side of the member 19 are twospring contact plates 26 and 27 which are adapted to respectively bearagainst the contacts 20 and 21 when the member 19 is in the positionshown in Figs. 3 and 5, and which are adapted to slide off from saidcontacts when the member 19 is rocked to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig.5.

For the purpose of oscillating the contact carrying member 19, asolenoid is provided comprising .a helix or winding 28 secured to theplate 16, and having reciprocative therein a magnetizable core 29 whichis secured to one end of a horizontal oscillatable member comprising abar 30 which is slidably mounted in a hole provided in a bracket 31depending from the plate 16. The bar 30 is provided with a longitudinalslot 32 through which extends the shaft 18.

Pivoted by a horizontal screw'33 to the bar 30 is an arm or member 34,Fig. 5, which is yieldingly held in the horizontal longitudinal positionby a vertical spring 35- having at its lower end a recess 36 which hasmounted in it one end of the arm of member 34. The upper end of thespring 35 is secured to a plate 37 attached to the bar 30. The other endof the arm 34 is adapted to enter either of two notches 38 and 39rovided in one end of a plate 40 whic is rigidly secured to the adjacentend of the block or member 19.

A U-shaped plate 41 which is secured to vthe bar 30, Fig. 5, has itsarms arranged to engage and limit the oscillating movement of the blockor member 19.

\Vhen the helix or winding 28 is energized, the core 29 will be drawntherein, thus sliding to the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, the bar 30. Thearm 34, with the parts as shown in solid lines in Fig. 5, will enter thenotch 38 and swing the 40 and member plate 19 to the position shown indotted lines in i Fig. 5, thus rocking the member 19 so that spring thecontactsprings 26 and 27'vvill slide onto the contactplates 20 and 21,and the contact springs 24 and 25 will slide off .from said contactplates, thus reversing the direction of the current passing 8, as willshortly be described.

For the purpose ofyieldingly holding the plate 40 and member 19 in itstwo operative positions, there is provided I an upright 42,'Fig. 5, theupper end of which is secured to the plate 16 and the lower end of whichis provided with a lateral V-shaped through the motor I projection 43,which is adapted to bear against the two oblique edges or a V-shapedprojection 44 which is provided at the end or the plate 40 opposite tothe end containing the notches 38 and 39.

For restoring the core 29 and bar- 30 to the osition shown in solidlines in Figs. 5 anc 6, an upright spring 45 has its upper end securedto the plate 16 and has its lower end bearing against the right side ofthe screw 33, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6. By reason of the employment ofthe spring 45 for restoring the core 29 and bar 30 to the initialposition, shown in solid lines in Figs. 5 and 6, after the core has beenenergize and then denergized, such restoration of the core will beeffected regardless of its position with respect to the horizontal, as,for example, when the vehicle is on a steep grade, when the vehiclewhich is controlled by the reversing mechanism is an automobile, or, incase the vehicle is an aeroplane, when the latter is in other than ahorizontal position.

WVhen a continuous current is employed, the circuit arrangement shown inFig. 3 is used. As shown in this figure, a conductor 46 connects one endof the helix 28 with end of the winding 48 magnets of the motor 8, theother end of said winding being connected by a conductor 49 with thecontact spring 22. The other end of the helix 28 is connectedbyaconductor 50 with one end of the winding 51 of the other field magnetof the motor 8. The other end of the winding, 51 is connected by aconductor 52 with the contact spring 23.

v The contact springs 24 and 25 are respectively connected by conductors53 and 54 with the two brushes of the motor 8.

A conductor 55 connects the contact springs 24 and 27, and a conductor56 connects the contact springs 25 and 26.

With the parts as shown in Fig. 3, and assuming the lower rail 3 to bethe feed rail, when the current is turned on, it will pass from saidrail through the adjacent wheel 14, thence through conductor46, helix28,

conductor 50,.windin 51, conductor 52, contact plates 23, 21 an 27,conductor 55, contact spring 24, conductor 53, motor 8, conductor 54,contact plate 25, conductor 56, contacts 26, 20 and 22, conductor 49,winding 48, conductor 47 and the other screw 14,

spring 13, and pin 12, 'tothe opposite wheel 2 and thence to thereturnra'il 3'.

The helix 28 will he energized, thus, drawing in the core 29 and pullingthe bar 30,

so that the arm 34 enters the notch38, thus reversing the switch to aposition in which the contacts 24 and 25 will rest onthe lates 20 and 21and the contacts 26 and 2 will pass ofi from said plates 20 and21. The

the feed rail 3' e contact plate movement of the car.

When an alternating current is to be used, the circuit employed is thatThis circuit is the same asthat shown Fig. 3, excepting that the helix28 is not in series with the motor 8 but is-in a'shunt circuit. 1Referring to Fig. .11, one end of the helix 8 is connected by aconductor 57 with the conductor 47. The other end of the helix 8 isconnected by a conductor 58 with a conductor 59 which connects one endof the winding 51 with the adjacent screw 14.

e current will n w pass from the feed 0 rail 3 to the adjacent tor 58,helix 28 and conductor 57 to the conductor 47 on of the current in themanner already de scribed. I

In Fig. is shown a circuit arrangement to be employed in connection withelther of- 1 riphera l teeth of a ratchet wheel 80, which 1s t e circuitbe used respectively in conJunction there- 60 with, description of onetrack and controlling mechanism will sufiice, as both are alike. Eachtrack has a feed rail 3 and a return rail 3. The tracks are endless.tracks The current will the mova shown in Fig.

switch and v rheostat lever 60 is going forward or provided on disposedparallel with each other so that the cars on each track may race withcars onthe' other track.

Referring particularly to Figs. 10170 14, i

O deslgnates the operating lever of a rheo Stat} one of the feed rails3. he return feed connected by a conductor 63 with le contact 64 of ancehavin a resistancecoil 65 cooperating 1n the usua manner with themovable conand supplies t e'current.

he arm 69 is adapted to engage a contact 6 which is connected by aconductor 77 withthe operating lever 60 of the rheostat.

en the switch arms 68, and

position shown, thecurrent will pass from the feed wire through theconductor 73, post 71, arm 69, contact? 6, conductor 77, lever conductor62 to the 7 feed rail 7 3, thence through the solenoid helix 28,reversing motor 8, as hereinbefore described, to the return rail 3, fromwhich the tact 64, coil 65, conductor arm 68, post turn wire 74.

By throwing the operating lever 60 from the operative to the neutralposition and then again to the operative position, the

ife switch being closed, the reversing switch on the car w1ll beoperated to reverse 66, contact 67, 70 and conductor 72 to the rethecurrent through the motor 8, thereby.

reversing the direction car, as above described. In orderthat theoperator may know Whether the particularcar controlled bg tie ofmovement of the ward, the following described indicating mechanism isprovided Referring particularly to Figs. 12to 14, designates therheostat casing, which has p voted to its nner wall a pawl 79, whichsecured to a mounted lever 60. I I

Also secured to the shaft 81 is a wheel 83 its row of letters, in whichthe letters F and B alternate with eachother and which indicate shaiit81, which is rotatably in a casing 82' carried by the a variable resist-60,, coils 61,

pass by the conductor 63, conperiphery. with a circular ling meansactuated by said respectively whether the car indicated by this deviceis moving forwardly or backwardly. The letters F and B are adapted,-

when the ratchet wheel 80 and wheel 83 are rotated step by step, toconsecutively appear at an observation opening 84k which is provided inthe periphery of the casing 82.

Whenever the lever of the rheostat is moved from the closed or operativeposition, to the neutral position, the pawl 7 9 will engage a tooth inthe ratchet wheel and turn the latter and the wheel 83 forward one step,so that the next letter on the wheel 83 will appear at the observationopening 84. If the car has been moving forwardly, the letter 1* willappear at the observation opening. It now the lever 60 is thrown to theneutral position, the wheel 83 will be advanced one step and the letterB will appear at the observation opening 84:, indicating that as soon asthe rheostat lever 60 is swung from the neutral to the operativeposition, the motor of the particular car controlled by the lever, orthe cars, it there are more than one on the same track, will be operatedto reverse the movement of the car.

A plurality of cars, if desired, equipped as above described, may beoperated upon each track, and there may be as many tracks as desired.

A knife switch 85 similar to the one just described respectivelyconnects the wires 75 and 7 at with conductors 86 and S7. The conductor87 is connected to a resistance coil 88 operatively connected with amovable contact 89 which is connected to the conductor ('33. Theconductor 86 is connected with a rheostat lever 90 similar to the lever60 and adapted to cooperate with resistance coils 91 which are connectedby a conductor 92 with the outer rail of the outer track which corresponds to the rail 3 and is designated by 93. The inner rail 9% of theouter track, corresponds to the rail 3 and is connected to the conductor63. The operation of the mechanism just described is the same as that ofthe mechanism which includes the lever 60.

I do not limit my invention to the structure shown anddescribed, asmodifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be madewithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is z- 1. In a motor operated vehicle, an electric motor, anelectric circuit including said motor and a reversing switch, vehiclepropelmotor, and automatic means rendered effective upon the turning-onof the current in said circuit for operating said switch.

2. In a motor operated vehicle, an electric circuit including a motorand a reversing switch, vehicle propelling means actuated by said motor,and automatic means including an electro-magnetic device in said circuitfor operating said switch.

3. In a motor operated vehicle, an electric circuit including a motorand a reversing switch, vehicle propelling means actuated by said motor,and automatic means, including a solenoid having a core and a winding,the latter being included in said circuit, for operating said switch.

At. In a motor operated vehicle, a vehicle, an electric circuitincluding a motor and a reversing switch carried by the vehicle, meansactuated by the motor for propelling the vehicle, and automatic meanscarried by the vehicle for operating said switch and rendered effectiveupon the turning of the current olf and then on in said circuit.

5. In a motor operated vehicle, a vehicle, an electric circuit includinga motor and a reversing switch carried by said vehicle, means actuatedby the motor for propelling. the vehicle, and automaticmeans, includingan electro-magnetc device carried by said vehicle, said device being incircuit with said switch, for operating said switch.

6. In a motor operated vehicle, a vehicle, an electric circuit includinga motor and a reversing switch carried by said vehicle, means actuatedby the motor for propelling the vehicle, and automatic means carried bythe vehicle and including a solenoid having a core and a winding, thelatter being included in said circuit, for operating said switch.

7. In a motor operated vehicle, a vehicle, an'electric circuit includinga motor and a reversing switch, vehicle propelling .means actuated bysaid motor, automatic means rendered effective upon the turning-0n ofthe current in said circuit for operating said switch, means for openingand closing said circuit, and means operated by said opening and closingmeans for indicating the direction of movement of said vehicle.

8. In a motor operaited vehicle, a vehicle, an electric circuit incuding electrically operated means for running said vehicle,automatically actuated means by which the direction of movement of thevehicle will be reversed, when said circuit is opened and then closed,means for opening and closing said circuit, and means actuated by saidopening and closing means for indicating the direction of movement ofsaid vehicle.

9. A plurality of vehicles, an electric circuit, electrically operatedmeans actuated by the current in said circuit for propelling saidvehicles independently of each other, and means, automatically actuatedupon the cutting ofi? and turnin on of the current supplied to any one 0said vehicles, by which the direction of movement of the vehicle will bereversed.

10. An electric circuit having a plurality llO of branches, motors insaid branches respecmatically reversing the direction of the curtively,a plurality of vehicles respectively rent passing through said motorsWhen the carrying and driven by said motors, means current is shut ofiand then turned on.

for shutting off and turning on the current In testimony whereof I havesigned my 10 5 in each of sald branches independently of name to thisspecification.

the other branches, and means for auto- CHARLES E. MORRIS.

